The Piper-Aztec

The Piper-Aztec is a low-winged unpressurized aircraft with call sign F-BLEB.

This aircraft is very suited for low troposphere studies: urban pollution, air chemistry, turbulence, wind…

Its airframe underwent some modifications to acommodate intruments dedicated to atmospheric research. The main one is the installation of a deiced instrumented nose boom 1.30m long. Pressure, temperature and relative humidity sensors mounted on this boom are inside a somewhat less undisturbed airflow. A floor hatch is used to drop probes or as specific instruments mounting point.

PERFORMANCES

• Max altitude : 4000m
• Endurance : 5 hours
• Range : 1400km
• Practical cruise speed : 250km/h (70 m /s)

Flights in known icing conditions are forbidden.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

• Constructor : Piper Aircraft Corp.
• Type: PA23-250
• length: 9.2 m, wingspan 11.3m
• Standard crew: 1 pilot, 1 flight engineer

TECHNICAL DATA

Engines: 2xLycoming IO 540 C1B5 each of 250cv, two bladed regulated propellers.

Electrical power supply : 2x28V alternators each of 60A. Moreover, converters were added to the electrical installation to supply 115V/400Hz and 220V/50Hz